St Louis (LKA 116) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS ST. LO IS I SA USS sr LOUIS ILKA-1161 USS ST LOUIS was launched at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, Virginia, on Ianuary 4, 1969. She was placed in commission at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, on November 22, 1969, becoming an integral part of the modern, mobile twenty knot amphibious force of the United States Pacific Fleet, and bears the name of the city and county of St. Louis, Missouri. Homeported in San Diego, California, ST LOUIS is a unit of Amphibious Squadron Seven. Carrying eleven assault boats and possessing a newly designed cargo handling system, the 575 foot ST LOUIS claims a powerful capability for support of amphibious operations that is significantly greater than older ships of her type. The mission of an LKA is to transport and land combat equipment and material with attendant personnel, in amphibious assault. Her four Mike 8 boats are the largest landing craft now hoisted aboard a Navy ship, and are capable of landing sixty ton tanks. An enlarged helicopter platform provides flexibility in the rapid evolving techniques of amphibious operations. The cargo handling system includes twelve booms, two of which have a capacity of seventy tons, special elevators and numerous cargo spaces for both vehicles and general cargo. Four cargo holds and several special cargo compartments provide the capability to transport any equipment presently required to support an amphibiousqassault. The engineering plant is fully automated and can be operated by fewer men than required on older ships. The fully air-conditioned ship includes roomy living quarters for both crew and ambarked troops, a recreation room and a library. Besides wartime victories, LKA's have accomplished significant peacetime achievements. They have been visible symbols of power for peace statesmanship in times and places of crisis, brought medical care, food and supplies to persons striken by hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, rescued seafarers in peril on stormy oceans and goodwill emissaries to other nations around the world.

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, 'f.-f- l , . f x J-. . l Amphibious Squadron Seven departed the United States for a Western Pacific Deployment on October 14, 1980. The squadron consisted of USS ST LOUIS ILKA-116j, USS TARA WA ILHA-lj, USS OCDEN ILPD-51, USS POINT DEFIANCE ILSD-311, USS HARBOUR COUNTY ILST-1195j and the USS PEORIA ILST-11831 In the vicinity of the atoll ENEWETOK, PHIBRON SEVEN relieved PHIBRON FIVE of it's operational commitments and assumed the duties of maintaining the United States presence in the Western Pacific and in the unstable region of the Indian Ocean. ' - I Amphibious Squadron Seven was divided into two Amphibious Ready Groups, Amphibious Ready Group Alpha and Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, which were tasked with operating in different regions of the Western Pacific. ARG BRAVO which consisted of USS ODCEN USS POINT DEFIANCE and USS PEORIA, proceeded north with the task of patrolling ,the region of the Sea of Iapan, Korea and Okinawa. Amphibious Ready Group ALFA consisting of USS ST LOUIS, USS TARA WA and USS BAREOUR COUNTY proceeded southward and patrolled the waters of the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. During the seven month deployment, Amphibious Squadron Seven completed all assigned tasks and operational commitments with pride and professionalism. A cf If

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,:b,,,:,7::LV, .. --,-.-... T. . ...--,., .- . 4532? , 1 'F':'32 '22 T CQNlulVlANl9l 5 G e3tif5Kf'0'qhH1i1t if9?P s. OFFICER ' Born in San Diego, Captain Morris grew up in Tooele, Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1957 and received his commission through the NROTC program. He served in USS OAK HILL fLSD-7j as an Ensign, then reported to Pensacola, Florida for flight training. Upon his designation as a Naval Aviator in Iune 1959, he reported to Fighter Squadron 124 at NAS Moffett Field, California as a F8U 'Crusader' fighter pilot. He subsequently flew the Crusader in five fighter squadrons prior to reporting as Assistant Air Operations Officer on the staff, Carrier Group FIVEfAttack Carrier Striking Force Seventh Fleet in October 1969. He then served a tour in Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 4 as Administrative Officer and project test pilot. Following a tour as Executive Officer he took command of Fighter Squadron 24 in May 1972 while deployed in USS HANCOCK ICVA-19j conducting combat operations off the coast of Vietnam. Captain Morris next attended the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama during which time he also received a Master of Arts degree in political science from Auburn University. His next assignment was in USS RANGER ICV-611 where he performed as Air Operations and Operations Officer. His most recent tour was Executive Assistant and Flag Secretary for the Commander Naval Air Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet. Captain Morris was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal,,the Navy Achievement Medal, and numerous other personal decorations for more than 300 combat missions over North Vietnam. ' He is married to the former Shannon Puckett of San Diego, and has three children, a son Darin and daughters Cyndy and Drew.